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Letter
# 33
Subj.: In
Response to Extra Board Dealers at Bally's
Date: 10/23/2000 3:19:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time
From: #33-LV
To: dealers@nfge.com
I was reading the email about the extra board dealer at
Bally's and they're not receiving insurance benefits. I too was on
the extra board at Bally's for 2 years without insurance benefits
- I was being worked 40, 50, 60 hours per week and still
considered an "extra board" dealer. One day a person
from the Labor Department was playing on my game. I asked him
about the policy of the Labor Department concerning this and his
response was "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and
quacks like a duck - it is a duck" - he gave me his card and
I called the Labor Department.
The next week
Bally's was offering disability insurance to its "full time
dealers" - I asked for coverage and was declined. I then
proceeded to Human Resources and was told the same thing - no you
are not considered a full-time employee. I then told them that the
Labor Department considered me a full-time employee and after a
heated discussion with the insurance representative - he went into
his supervisor's office.
I was then
called into the supervisor's office - she said she would discuss
the matter with the Casino Manager (at the time Jimmy Wike) -
amazing - the next day he called me into the Pit - he said "I
didn't know you had a problem and if you did why didn't you come
to me about it" (why would I do that since he was the one
denying me the insurance) and by the way he said -- we will be
making 20 or so of you permanent dealers immediately and you will
receive all benefits.
This had never
been done before as there was rarely any movement on the extra
board for 2 years - they kept saying there were no spots
available. I believe that they knew the policy of the Labor
Department but would not enforce it until someone pressed the
issue with them - once again only doing the "right"
thing when forced by law. If you are working as a full-time
employee you should have the benefits of a full-time employee.
Thankfully, I
receive the short-term and long-term disability along with medical
insurance since I was diagnosed with cancer six months later. Had
it not been for that "chance" meeting with the employee
of the Labor Department, I would either be dead or in bankruptcy
court from hospital bills.
I encourage anyone to question management about their
policy. I thought I might be fired for speaking up but was not
because they knew they were doing the wrong thing. Management has
been scaring us into accepting their policies of doing business
for so many years people just accept it as a way of life for us
dealers here in Vegas. Things will not change until we speak up
and support each other - there is no job loyalty because there is
no job security.
I am involved in the union efforts at Bally's and hope that
this will improve our working conditions - not only for ourselves
but for the next generation of dealers to come. The persons whom I
have approached to sign cards and have refused are scared - but I
try to reassure them that united we can stand before these ever
growing parent corporations taking over the gaming industry.
Solidarity is the only thing we have and we need to band together
- this is the time we need to seize it.
Thanks for the website - I did not know about until today
and will give the address to other members at Bally's and hope
that the questions and replies on this message board will explain
some of the questions that have been coming up regarding the
union.
#33-LV
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